Chasing the Flame

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

ETHAN

Damn.

Maybe I should invite her for dinner. All night, I could barely close my eyes—those deep hazel eyes kept flashing in my mind. The moment she walked out of my apartment yesterday, it was all I could think about.

No woman had ever made me feel this way—so vulnerable, so weak, so... undesirable. Women practically worshipped the ground I walked on, throwing themselves at my feet, begging for my attention. Yet here I was, the one chasing. Why?

Maybe I should fire her. Send her packing. That would be the only way to stop thinking about her.

I picked up my phone, wanting to send her a message, but for the first time, nothing came to mind. Normally, I was a good tease, a master flirt, always knowing exactly the right words to get a woman in my bed, to have them screaming my name in ecstasy. But with her... Kimberly... nothing.

She wasn't even my type, to be honest. I shouldn't be this obsessed.

I sat there, rambling to myself for over fifteen minutes, stunned by my own thoughts. I couldn't even function properly at work anymore. Suddenly, I was feeling like a liability to my own company.

I decided to swallow my pride and ask her to dinner. I could come up with an excuse, something casual—just wanting company, nothing more. Yeah, right.

I was going to show her the real Ethan, the one who could make a girl's knees weak with just a few words.

"Good morning, sir," one of the new blonde staff walked into my office, her eyes meeting mine.

I hardened my face and ignored her.

"You have a meeting in twenty minutes, sir."

"Cancel it!" I replied immediately, my voice sharper than intended.

"Sir?" She hesitated, clearly taken aback.

"You heard me."

"But... the president is already in the room, sir."

I rubbed my temples, heaving a sigh of frustration. "Fine, I'll be there. You can leave."

As she walked out, I decided to text Kimberly before heading to the boardroom.

'We should eat something, 7 p.m. sharp.'

No, too direct.

'Would you be available by 7 p.m.? I've got something for you.'

Too formal.

'I need you to come with me for dinner.'

Dammit! Why was this so hard?

 I stared blankly at the screen, unsure of how to word it without sounding like a jerk... or a maniac. I didn't want to sound sweet either—definitely didn't want her knowing what I was thinking. I was in deep shit.

'I would love for you to accompany me to dinner, Miss Stafford.'

I sent the message, hoping it wouldn't freak her out.

Straightening my tie, I headed to the boardroom, eager to get the day over with.

The meeting dragged on, but I didn't listen to a single word. All I did was check my phone over and over, waiting for a reply from her. But nothing. Not a single response.

Shit! Why wasn't she texting back? Was she upset with me? Should I call her? No, that would make me look desperate.

I sighed, my mind wandering to what I wanted to do to her. Punish her. With her legs spread over my bed, her arms restrained... Damn it. The image popped into my head, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.